Real estate

See all real estate insights

What is the real estate industry?

The real estate industry encompasses the buying, selling, development and management of land and buildings through various activities, including financing, construction, marketing and property management. It is crucial to the world economy because it serves as a major asset class for investment and wealth building, generates jobs across multiple sectors, and influences economic and societal growth by stimulating increased property values and investment in development projects.

Real estate businesses are crucial to global economic health. RSM supports real estate growth and health with innovative solutions tailored to industry needs. For instance, industry leaders, including owners, operators and investors in real estate funds and real estate investment trusts (REITs), recognize the critical need for comprehensive data and informed analysis to seamlessly manage and monitor their portfolios. The needs will vary by stakeholder, whether it is a real estate owner or operator; a commercial real estate developer of industrial warehouses, office space or multifamily buildings; a construction firm or contractor; a property management company; or a family office group.

As the middle market leader in assurance, tax and consulting services, RSM has the scale, industry insights and multidisciplinary experience to support the complex operations and transactions of all real estate clients, including private and public companies across all real estate sectors and asset classes. RSM’s vast network of experienced professionals and full spectrum of comprehensive services support every aspect of real estate—whether it entails developing, owning, managing or investing in properties.

Real estate industry outlook

More than a trusted service provider, RSM is also committed to keeping middle market business leaders informed by publishing The Real Economy Construction and Real Economy Industry Outlook. RSM industry senior analysts who are dedicated to studying economic and industry data, market trends, and emerging issues faced by middle market businesses write these insights. Here are the latest headlines:

Real estate industry trends to watch

Industry trends are transformative forces that significantly affect real estate businesses. RSM has identified several key trends for 2025:

In addition to monitoring and providing insights on these trends, RSM regularly publishes thought leadership including The Real Economy monthly publication to keep middle market business leaders abreast of current events.

Real estate consulting services and solutions

RSM leads the middle market in providing assurance, tax and consulting services tailored to the real estate industry. With deep industry knowledge and technical experience, RSM empowers real estate businesses to achieve growth and operational efficiency.

• Real estate consulting
• RSM Fund administration and advisory
• Real estate outsourcing
• Real estate property accounting
• Yardi implementation and optimization services
• Real estate artificial intelligence
• Real estate tax services
• Real estate audit and assurance

Where there are real estate challenges, we see opportunities for growth

The real estate industry is undergoing profound change as it adapts to the macroeconomic shift from near-zero interest rates to a higher-for-longer environment. Rising borrowing costs have placed increased pressure on valuations, investment strategies and capital availability, making it essential for firms to optimize operations to drive enterprise value. Additionally, ongoing economic uncertainty, shifting consumer behaviors and evolving regulatory landscapes have created new challenges, forcing companies to reassess their business models.

A key challenge is the persistent workforce shortage, which has driven the need for digital transformation to enhance operational efficiencies and reduce reliance on manual processes. Cybersecurity threats also pose significant risks, as the industry increasingly depends on technology and data-driven decision making. Moreover, real estate businesses must navigate complex tax regulations, mitigate fraud risks and adapt to investor demands for greater transparency. Successfully addressing these challenges requires the right mix of strategies and solutions.

Integrated into the real estate industry ecosystem

RSM’s active participation in key real estate industry organizations reflects the firm’s commitment to staying at the forefront of market trends, policy developments and best practices. Through these memberships, RSM professionals engage with thought leaders, contribute to industry discussions and bring valuable insights to clients. A few of the key organizations RSM is involved in include:

• The Real Estate Roundtable
• National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT)
• National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (NCREIF)
• Pension Real Estate Association (PREA)
• Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW Network)